State v. Greiner

207 N.W. 226, 53 N.D. 558, 1926 N.D. LEXIS 8

• Court: North Dakota Supreme Court
• Decided: January 25, 1926
• Status: Published

Opinion

JOHNSON, J.

The defendant was convicted on an information charging him with engaging in the liquor traffic by unlawfully selling intoxicating liquor. Judgment was pronounced on the verdict and a motion for a new trial denied. The defendant appeals from the order denying his motion for a new trial and from the judgment.

. The testimony of the state’s witnesses tends to show that in April 1925, the defendant sold seven bottles of a liquid which they described as beer. The defendant does not dispute that the sale was made, but says that the liquid was nonintoxicating malt. Giving him the benefit of every inference, which the, most liberal interpretation permits us. to draw from his own testimony, his claim is that the liquid, which he says was malt, was not only nonintoxicating, but that it contained, less than one half of one per cent of alcohol by volume. The state’s witnesses testified, somewhat more explicitly than the defendant, not only that the liquid was strong beer, but that it contained more than one half of one per cent of alcohol by volume. They based their testimony not upon a chemical analysis, but upon the fact that they had smelled and drunk tbe liquor and bad bad experience previously wbicb enabled them to say tbat tbe liquid was beer, and tbat it contained more than tbe minimum quantity of alcohol permitted under tbe. statute.

Tbe court instructed tbe jury tbat if tbe liquor was beer, it was intoxicating liquor, witbin the definition of tbe statute; tbat if it was not beer, but was a malt liquor fit and intended for use for beverage purposes and contained more tban one balf of one per cent of alcohol by volume, it would likewise be intoxicating liquor, witbin tbe definition of tbe law. Tbe court then said, in substance, tbat if the jury found tbat tbe liquor was beer, or tbat, if it was a malt or fermented liquor, it was fit or intended for use for beverage purposes and contained more tban one balf of one per cent of alcohol by volume, then tbe defendant would be guilty of engaging in tbe liquor traffic. This was correct. State v. Schuck, 51 N. D. 875, 201 N. W. 342; Sess. Laws 1923, § 1, chap. 268, as amended by Sess. Law's 1925, chap. 175. Tbe court then gave tbe instruction in tbe negative form. That tbe liquor was fit and was intended for use for beverage purposes is wholly undisputed. This instruction is, in the circumstances, clearly correct under chapter 268, .Sess. Laws 1923, § 1, as amended by chapter 175, Sess. Law's 1925. Tbe instruction correctly stated tbe theory of tbe defense and tbe triers of fact were advised tbat if the beverage was not fit or intended for use for beverage purposes, or contained less tban one balf of one per cent, if fit for use for beverage purposes, and was not beer, they must find tbe defendant not guilty.

Tbe defendant assigns errors upon tbe rulings of tbe court in admitting and excluding evidence; remarks of tbe court during tbe course of tbe trial; and tbe instructions to tbe jury.

First, considering tbe rulings on tbe admission or exclusion of evidence, we note specifications five and six. In both instances tbe same question, or substantially the same question, was later put to tbe witness and tbe witness was permitted to answer. See Ruddick v. Buchanan, 37 N. D. 132, 163 N. W. 720; State v. Moeller, 24 N. D. 165, 138 N. W. 981. With reference to specifications seven and eight, where complaint is made on tbe ground tbat tbe court did not permit tbe defendant to testify as to tbe nonintoxicating quality of the liquid sold, it is enough to say tbat this witness later testified, in substance, that the liquid was non-intoxicating and contained less than one half of one per cent of alcohol by volume. See Ruddick v. Buchanan and State v. Moeller, supra. Specification nine alleges error because the defendant was not permitted to answer this question, “Do you sell to anyone that comes there.” The question was clearly immaterial and the objection was properly sustained. Manifestly, it would be no defense to prove that the defendant sold promiscuously to all applicants. With reference to specifications eleven and twelve, where the court permitted the state to inquire of the defendant why he did not live at his own house instead of at the house of one Mrs. Waltham, where the sale took place, and where the stuff was manufactured, we believe no prejudice resulted, even if the matter elicited be held immaterial. The defendant, moreover, had testified that he lived in his own house; on cross-examination the state asked him the questions to which objection was made. It was permissible to show that he was mistaken, or had testified incorrectly, and the questions were proper as bearing upon his credibility.

Specification 13 is based upon the ruling of the court in sustaining an objection made by the state, upon the ground that it was irrelevant, incompetent and immaterial, to the following question asked of Mrs. Waltham, in whose house the defendant lived and where the liquid was manufactured and sold: “And how did you make that ? “It may be conceded that the defendant should have been permitted to offer any proper testimony tending to establish the defense that the liquid sold was malt, that it contained less than the statutory minimum of alcohol, and that the method of manufacture could have been shown. We believe that the error in excluding this question is not prejudicial and that a reversal on this ground would be wholly unjustifiable. The defendant himself had just explained how the stuff was made; no exception had been taken to this testimony; and, in fact, it appears clearly in the record that the manner and method of making the stuff and the ingredients used, were not in dispute or controversy. In such circumstances the error in excluding the evidence is without prejudice. The fact which the evidence excluded tended to prove had been previously proved without dispute. See State v. Reilly 25 N. D. 339, 141 N. W. 720; State v. Lamb, 39 S. D. 307, 164 N. W. 69; Wipper man Mercantile Co. v. Robbins, 23 N. D. 208, 135 N. W. 785, Ann. Cas. 1914D, 682; 2 R. C. L. 253.

Tbe tenth specification is based upon remarks made by the trial court. Counsel for the defendant had inquired whether the premises had been searched for intoxicating liquor. An objection to this had been sustained by the court. The defendant then asked the witness: “On the night of April 27, was the sheriff and other officers — ” whereupon the court interrupted and said “Don’t pursue that course any more. I have ruled against that three or four times. Take notice of that. Don’t do that.” Counsel did not indicate what purpose he had in view by the inquiry commenced. We think, in the circumstances, the trial court was justified in inferring that counsel intended to ask substantially the same question which-had just been excluded and that the remarks were not prejudicial. It was an admonition not to pursue an examination which the court had held improper. If counsel had something else in mind and if he had so indicated, he would doubtless have been permitted to proceed.

The assignments of error based on the instructions to the jury are clearly without merit. The rule has been frequently applied in this court that the charge must be considered as a whole. Error cannot ordinarily be predicated upon isolated sentences. Examined in the light of this rule, the instructions of the trial court clearly and fairly state thé law, applicable to the theory of the prosecution and to that of the defense. We have sufficiently summarized the instructions. There was no error in this respect. The instructions are fair and fully cover the legal aspects of the ease.

Error is alleged upon the instruction that the jury might take into consideration, in passing upon the weight of the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses, “their interest, if any, has been shown, in the result of the law suit.” This is a part of a general instruction and is clearly correct. 14 R. C. L. 741; 1 Blashfield, Instructions to Juries, § 348.

Finding no error in the record, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

OhkistxaNsoN, Oh. J., and Burke, Birdzele, and Nuessle, JJ., concur.